OPAQUE THIN FILM PASSIVATION

• US 20160117009A1
• Filed: 01/07/2016
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: HONG, Seung Jae, KANG, Sunggu, GRUNTHANER, Martin Paul, ZHONG, John Z.
• Application Number:
  US14/990,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20160117009A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/1253 curable adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/246 Vapour deposition
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/41 Opaque
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/208 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/1207 Heat-activated adhesive B32B37/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04107 Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/282 for inhibiting the corrosion of the circuit, e.g. for preserving the solderability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

A touch sensitive device that includes a touch sensor having an opaque passivation layer is disclosed. The opaque passivation layer can be made from an organic or inorganic material, such as acrylic. The opaque passivation layer can be positioned in the touch sensitive device between the cover material of the device and conductive traces located on the touch sensor to hide the conductive traces from the user'"'"'s view and protect the conductive traces from corrosion. Processes for making the touch sensitive devices that include a touch sensor having an opaque passivation layer are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a cover material;

a touch sensor comprising;

a substrate;

a first set of conductive traces disposed on a first surface of the substrate;

a first opaque passivation layer disposed on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface, wherein at least a portion of the first opaque passivation layer is disposed between the set of conductive traces and the cover material; and

an optically clear adhesive laminating the cover material to the touch sensor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a distance from an outer edge of the device to an inner edge of the first opaque passivation layer is greater than a distance from the outer edge of the device to an inner edge of the set of conductive traces.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first opaque passivation layer has a thickness of less than 5 μ

m.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the first opaque passivation layer has a thickness between 2-3 μ

m.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device excludes a black mask.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first set of touch sensor lines disposed on the first surface of the substrate and coupled to the set of conductive traces.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a second set of touch sensor lines disposed on the second surface of the substrate.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first opaque passivation layer has an optical density greater than or equal to 3.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second set of conductive traces disposed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the second set of conductive traces are coupled to ends of a plurality of touch sensor lines.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising:

at least one of a second opaque passivation layer and a black mask disposed on the second set of conductive traces.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the second opaque passivation layer has a gradient thickness.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first opaque passivation layer comprises acrylic.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a touch sensitive display.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the first opaque passivation layer contacts the cover material.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the first opaque passivation layer is configured to conceal all of the first set of conductive traces.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the first opaque passivation layer is configured to conceal a portion of the first set of conductive traces.

17. A method for manufacturing a device, the method comprising:

depositing a first set of touch sensor lines capable of measuring a touch object;

depositing a first set of conductive traces on a first surface of a substrate, the first set of conductive traces coupled to the first set of touch sensor lines;

depositing a first opaque passivation layer between the first set of conductive traces and a cover material;

laminating the substrate to the cover material using an optically clear adhesive.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first opaque passivation layer is deposited such that the outer edge of the device to an inner edge of the first opaque passivation layer is greater than a distance from the outer edge of the device to an inner edge of the first set of conductive traces.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first set of touch sensor lines are deposited on the first surface of the substrate, the method further comprising:

depositing a second set of touch sensor lines on the second surface of the substrate and proximate to the first opaque passivation layer.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

depositing a second set of conductive traces on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface; and

depositing a second opaque passivation layer on the second set of conductive traces.